Thursday, August 20, 2009

The Girls I Love and Shameless Begging

As most of you know,(I've mentioned it enough!), I run a book club for teen and tween girls at a low income community center. Actually, it's a low income housing project and the community center is located at the apartments. Many of the residents are transitioning out of homelessness or other bad situations. The center is a meeting place that provides after school and summer programs for the kids, parenting classes, and meetings for those who had had alcohol or chemical dependencies. It truly is a place that fights generational poverty on all levels. You can check it out at www.cpahinc.com.

Last year I worked as an after school tutor, but finances reared its ugly head and they had to let me go. Sob. However, the book club lives on!!!!

There are eight hardcore members (and a couple who show up intermittently) who love their book club and want more than anything to have it continue this year. For that I need some very special authors who are willing to give of their books. There is NO money to buy books. I had a fabulous list of authors and books last year! All sent books, some came to visit, others made a vlog and sent gifts. Out of the eight members who attended faithfully, I had three who were already readers. Now I have eight! That is HUGE!!!!The connection with the authors is key. I need that again this year! If you are an author or are someone willing to help out, please contact me. Remember, I need eight to ten of the same book and that can be a challenge! Now I'm going to share some pix of my most fabulous and lovely girls!



April, Kamiliah(MeeMee!)and Ana



Jenny doesn't know I took this pix!



Shamsa and Jaeteonna being silly and shy. I think that's Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress by Tina Ferraro that they're looking at!

7 comments:

Cherlyn Michaels said...

Do they have something like a book wish list?

TJ Brown said...

Nope. Basically, we read what we can get ten of for free. We had quite a selection last year!
Teri

Cherlyn Michaels said...

Looking for your email address here. Silly me if I'm overlooking it...lol. Can we touch base? My email is cherlyn.michaels@att.net.

Anna R said...

my BFF Wendy Toliver says she knows U and this is legit. She told me to get involved. What can I do 2 help? annaR15@charter.net
I am 17 now.Anna R. Haze

Wayne Roseberry said...

Where do we send the books if we have them?

Lindsey Leavitt said...

My book doesn't come out until spring, but I would love to contribute when I do, (maybe set up a skype visit as well). Also, I'll check through my library, but I have quite a few class sets of classics (like Bridge to Teribithia) from when I taught school. If I can find them, those I can send now.

Kimberley Griffiths Little said...

Hey, Teri, post again about this next spring, K? I'd love to send you my new book next summer. It would be perfect for 9-14 year old girls. Thanks, and good luck! What a great thing you're doing!